High School Timeline
Columbine High School students planning to go to college can follow this recommended timeline.
Freshman Year
August
- Parents: attend ninth-grade parent night.
- Get involved in clubs and activities.
- Meet your counselor.
- Develop your time management and study skills.
- Learn the graduation requirements.
September
- Students who have ALPs should complete survey No. 1 under “My Planner > Tasks Assigned to Me” in Naviance.
- Complete additional ICAP tasks as assigned
October
- Encourage your parents to attend parent-teacher conferences.
December
- Prepare for first semester finals.
January
- Start thinking about sophomore year classes
February
- Register for sophomore year.
April
- Start studying for finals
May
- Prepare for second-semester final exams
Sophomore Year
August
- Take the most rigorous courses you can handle.
- Remember your study skills.
- Continue to be involved in clubs and activities.
- Think you might want to play sports in college? Get familiar with NCAA eligibility requirements.
September
- Students who have ALPs should complete survey No. 1 under “My Planner > Tasks Assigned to Me” in Naviance.
October
- Attend a college fair.
March
- Go on college visits. Most colleges host visit days.
May
- Take AP exams.
- Prepare for second-semester final exams.
Junior Year
August
- Take the most rigorous courses you can handle.
- Your college applications will include grades and classes through the end of junior year.
September
- Students who have ALPs should complete survey No. 1 under “My Planner > Tasks Assigned to Me” in Naviance.
- Visit with college representatives in the post-grad center.
October
- Attend a college fair.
- Review SAT and ACT test dates.
November
March
- Go on college visits. Most colleges host visit days.
April
- Take the state SAT here at Columbine. We will register you at school for the state test.
May
- Take AP exams.
- Prepare for second-semester final exams.
- Develop a list of colleges that you may apply to.
- Use your end-of-junior-year GPA and SAT scores to help guide your search.
- Attend the end-of-year College Process Workshop.
June
- Go on college visits. Most colleges have visit days set up.
Senior Year
August
- Attend your Senior Seminar sessions and work closely with your counselor.
- Make a plan for retaking the SAT for higher scores. There are seven national SAT dates throughout the school year.
- Start exploring scholarships to plan your applications.
September
- Students who have ALPs should complete survey No. 1 under “My Planner > Tasks Assigned to Me” in Naviance.
- Visit with college representatives in the post-grad center.
- Start college applications. It may be best to use the Common App.
October
- College application early deadlines are approaching. Nov. 1-15 is often the early deadline window.
November
- Continue to search for scholarships. Set aside time during Winter Break to apply for a few.
December
- Fill out the FAFSA for financial aid.
January
- If you applied to colleges in November, start looking for your acceptance letters.
February
March
- Visit colleges you still might be interested in and apply for scholarships to schools you have been accepted to.
April
- Make your college decision. Deposits are usually due May 1.
May
- Take AP exams
- Prepare for second-semester final exams
- Complete the senior survey in Naviance and request your final transcript be sent to the college you will be attending.
- Graduate!